tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post7251695131538422396..comments2023-11-05T22:35:31.766+00:00Comments on Neil Clark: The Final Chapter for Libraries?Neil Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-55473916994058630082010-03-17T13:32:43.272+00:002010-03-17T13:32:43.272+00:00I think you're kind of missing the point here,...I think you're kind of missing the point here, Neil.<br />There was a time when 'ordinary' folks couldn't afford books - so they either had to do without them, or they had to borrow them from a library. Fine. But those days are gone now.<br /><br />Nowadays 'ordinary' folks are becoming increasingly better off - so that they can now afford to buy their own fresh clean copy of any books that they want (or need) to read.<br /><br />So where is the problem?<br /><br />To prove the point, Neil, I bet you've got hundreds of books in your home, eh? (Even notwithstanding the 1000s in cash that you and your lady waste on smoking cigarettes each year!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-25844785255865534092010-03-10T15:24:47.814+00:002010-03-10T15:24:47.814+00:00One thing that seriously hacks me off with librari...One thing that seriously hacks me off with libraries lately is the number of noisy kids on computers.<br /><br />Libraries used to be oases of calm where you could go to read books. Now they all seem to have spent their budgets in the last few years getting in rows and rows of computers, all in the name of 'inclusiveness' and modernity. <br />How very new Labour! <br /><br />The staff talk loudly to each other thus encouraging others to do the same.<br /><br />I wonder if the secret plan is to destroy libraries by stealth by changing them gradually into "infotainment centers" where the proles can go only to be amused to death.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-17542773876982742992010-03-10T15:19:12.636+00:002010-03-10T15:19:12.636+00:00A lot of UK public libraries were founded by Andre...A lot of UK public libraries were founded by Andrew Carnegie - a billionaire who would have agreed with you about the value of their non-capitalist model. owever the failure of libraries seems to be because they don't seem to do book lending much now. As you point out the number of books are falling far faster than the number of libraries while the number of books in most bookshops is rising. Books seem to be a very minor expense compared to staff which is puting the cart before the horse.<br /><br />This may be what is wromg withn the socialist model today. Not that it is inherently unworkable but that its link to government bureaucratic parasitism has made it so.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-6990969420883461212010-03-09T23:52:06.395+00:002010-03-09T23:52:06.395+00:00Neil - I haven't read The Satanic Verses, (or ...Neil - I haven't read The Satanic Verses, (or anything else by Rushdie, for that matter) but I'm partial to books whose authors have death contracts taken out on them.<br /><br />But I distracted you from my suggestions for libraries. Do you concur with them?<br /><br />Gregor - I understand that only 5% of the UK population is Muslim now. But what % of the UK population was Muslim 30 years ago? Which group has more kids/woman, UK Muslims, or UK everybody-elses? What % of the UK population will be Muslim 30 years from now, if the trends of the past 30 years continue? Is there any reason why they shouldn't continue? I sincerely hope that Mark Steyn is wrong, but I don't have a snappy comeback to his idea.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146665485840381349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-38130176831238465892010-03-09T11:08:51.326+00:002010-03-09T11:08:51.326+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14729641571904025752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-42288634424369450852010-03-09T09:43:28.432+00:002010-03-09T09:43:28.432+00:00"Libraries gave us power" as the Manic S..."Libraries gave us power" as the Manic Street Preachers once sang.<br /><br />When you reduce everything to the "crude cash nexus" as modern capitalism does, of course libraries have to go along with every other public service eventually.<br /><br />It all comes down to a simple question. Does running absolutely everything in the world at a profit equal progress?Nickhttp://www.nicholasmead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-23694041958130401212010-03-09T08:59:28.652+00:002010-03-09T08:59:28.652+00:00Hi Douglas,
'Can you find a copy of "The ...Hi Douglas,<br />'Can you find a copy of "The Satantic Verses" by Salman Rushdie at your local library?'<br /><br />I very much hope not! Please don't tell me that you're a fan of Rushdie. He's a neocon pin-up boy because of his attacks on Islam.Neil Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-24235709100599838652010-03-09T02:47:04.621+00:002010-03-09T02:47:04.621+00:00In my city of St. Paul, Minnesota, there is a hand...In my city of St. Paul, Minnesota, there is a handful of individuals who decide which books will be available in which library branches. These individuals are within the library bureaucracy, and accountable only to their superiors. The current arrangement is about as undemocratic as possible. <br /><br />I would like for the library to say "This book is here because a certain number of people have checked it out over such-and-such a time," or "This book is here because it is recognized as important to this region," or "This book is here because it is a part of Western civilization that has stood the test of time."<br /><br />I would like the process of adding and subtracting books to a library to be more democratic and involve social media more.<br /><br />One last thing about libraries: Can you find a copy of "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie at your local library?Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146665485840381349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-12661632560642563622010-03-08T21:08:42.534+00:002010-03-08T21:08:42.534+00:00Hi Mr Piccolo:
"Maybe I am crazy, but I hone...Hi Mr Piccolo:<br /><br />"Maybe I am crazy, but I honestly think the neoliberals want regular people to be as ignorant as possible, so they can't think for themselves and just accept whatever the mainstream talking heads have to say." <br /><br />No, you're certainly not crazy: that is exactly what the neoliberals want. To turn the whole country -except the ruling 'elite' of course, into mindless consumers. The process is quite deliberate. Capital rules the show and capital only cares about one thing: profit maximisation. <br /><br />all best,<br />NeilNeil Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-19030692909764921442010-03-08T20:57:15.108+00:002010-03-08T20:57:15.108+00:00I am actually kind of surprised by this. I would h...I am actually kind of surprised by this. I would have thought that in a recession people would be cutting back on purchases of books, and instead turning to public libraries for their reading materials. <br /><br />But I agree with everything you write, Mr. Clark. I think another unfortunate result of the decline of public libraries will be that less affluent people will be unable to have access to free books, meaning they will perhaps choose to read less. I think the decline of public libraries will also have a negative impact on students of all ages who may need access to large numbers of books but cannot pay to buy them. <br /><br />Maybe I am crazy, but I honestly think the neoliberals want regular people to be as ignorant as possible, so they can't think for themselves and just accept whatever the mainstream talking heads have to say. <br /><br />I think consumer education classes in schools are another example of this trend. In the past, people usually learned personal finance from their parents or simply by living their lives and gaining experience as they went along. I think the emphasis on "practical" consumer education and the downplaying of history, literature, and culture in general is a sign that we are no longer supposed to be citizens but just mindless consumers.Mr. Piccolonoreply@blogger.com